Cased Pair of French & Indian War Pistols
In North American Leather-Bound Casing
By I. Buckmaster...working circa 1730-1763
London

Joseph Buckmaster is listed as working in London 1730-1763; during 1746 through 1763 he worked for The Hudson's Bay Company. It is wonderful to find single surviving examples of this British export quality, dating to the 1740-1760 period...finding a true matched pair is important and exciting.
The pistol has gilt brass barrels and brass lock plates, trigger guards, sideplates, butt plate, thumb pieces and rammer ferrules. Only the lock parts and tang are steel. The guns are .69 caliber with swamped round barrels being 7.5-inches in length. They are proofed and cartouched; London proofs and the heart over "IB" mark of Joseph Buckmaster. Full stocks with butt caps having long engraved tangs; long narrow pointed locks with simple engraving and no bridle for frizzen; fancy pierced and engraved sideplates. All furniture is lightly and plainly engraved with appropriate smooth surface wear. The pistols are 13-inches long overall with both ramrods being likely appropriate replacements, however, the horn tips and steel worms are appropriately correct. The forend stock of one of these pistols has been restored; wood is expertly replaced 3-inches back from the muzzle to just ahead of the swell. One frizzen is replaced; both hammers appear to be old replacements or repairs. The hammers are of the quality that one could expect from a colonial smith and may indeed be of colonial vintage.
The case is a colonial type case, sufficient for use on the frontier before and during the French & Indian Wars. The wood case is covered in leather and decorated with dozens of brass tacks; leather is well worn, but still supple with no tears The brass lockplate has a working key. The interior partitions and lid are lined in green worsted cloth. The case contains lead balls, a piece of sheet lead, and a combination tool, spare flints, and a small powder horn.

The North American casing is a great find.

308-1/E0239/RSSSS

Price: $29,000

If you are interested in buying this item, please call (978) 597-8084 or email David Hillier at drh@aaawt.com or Aaron Littlefield at ajl@aaawt.com

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME